Section 2756.15  Definitions

"Assistant State's Attorney" − A full-time employee of a State's Attorney in Illinois or the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor who is continually licensed to practice law and prosecutes or defends cases on behalf of the State or a county.

"Assistant Attorney General" − A full-time employee of the Illinois Attorney General who is continually licensed to practice law and prosecutes or defends cases on behalf of the State.

"Assistant Public Defender" − A full-time employee of a Public Defender in Illinois or the State Appellate Defender who is continually licensed to practice law and provides legal representation to indigent persons, as provided by statute.

"Assistant public guardian" − A full-time employee of a public guardian in Illinois who is continually licensed to practice law and provides legal representation pursuant to court appointment.

"Civil legal aid" − Free or reduced-cost legal representation or advice to low-income clients in non-criminal matters.

"Civil legal aid attorney" − An attorney who is continually licensed to practice law and is employed full time as an attorney at a civil legal aid organization in Illinois.

"Civil legal aid organization" − A not-for-profit corporation in Illinois that:

is exempt from the payment of federal income tax pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;

is established for the purpose of providing legal services that include civil legal aid;

employs 2 or more full-time attorneys who are licensed to practice law in this State and who directly provide civil legal aid; and

is in compliance with registration and filing requirements that are applicable under the Charitable Trust Act [760 ILCS 65] and the Solicitation for Charity Act [225 ILCS 460].

"Eligible debt" − The outstanding principal, interest, and related fees from loans obtained for undergraduate, graduate, or law school educational expenses made by government or commercial lending institutions or educational institutions. Eligible debt excludes loans made by a private individual or family member.

"IGAC attorney" − A full-time employee of the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission, including the Office of State Guardian, the Legal Advocacy Service, and the Human Rights Authority, who is continually licensed to practice law and provides legal representation to carry out the responsibilities of the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission.

"Legislative attorney" − A full-time employee of the Illinois Senate, the Illinois House of Representatives, or the Illinois Legislative Reference Bureau who is continually licensed to practice law and provides legal advice to members of the General Assembly.

"Public interest attorney" − An attorney practicing in Illinois who is an assistant State's Attorney, assistant Public Defender, civil legal aid attorney, assistant Attorney General, assistant public guardian, IGAC attorney, or legislative attorney.

"Qualifying employer" − For purposes of this Part, a qualifying employer is: an Illinois State's Attorney or the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor, an Illinois Public Defender or the State Appellate Defender, an Illinois civil legal aid organization, the Illinois Attorney General, an Illinois public guardian, the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission, the Illinois Senate, the Illinois House of Representatives, or the Illinois Legislative Reference Bureau. [110 ILCS 916/15]